Reflective Windows Exterior Ray Trace

LeeDrafter

By LeeDrafter,
in General Q & A

 Share

Recommended Posts

LeeDrafter

LeeDrafter

Posted
Posted

Hello,

I am working on an exterior ray trace, and I would like the windows to be slightly reflective instead of transparent. What is the right material and properties for this look? I tried to make the glass a mirror, but it turned out really dark in my ray trace. I attached a picture (not mine) that shows the look I am going for. 

I am using Chief X12. 

thank you!

Columbia Front.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ericepv

ericepv

Posted
Posted

In the 'Define Material' box, set the glass to transparent/crown glass (in the properties tab), then darken the glass a bit in the material color section of the pattern tab (try various shades of grey). Also, be sure there are no interior lights turned on and set the interior ambient to zero.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LeeDrafter

LeeDrafter

Posted
  • Author
Posted
14 minutes ago, ericepv said:

In the 'Define Material' box, set the glass to transparent/crown glass (in the properties tab), then darken the glass a bit in the material color section of the pattern tab (try various shades of grey). Also, be sure there are no interior lights turned on and set the interior ambient to zero.

Thank you, I wish there was a reflectivity setting I could adjust. I will mess around with the grey shades a bit more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LeeDrafter

LeeDrafter

Posted
  • Author
Posted
18 minutes ago, ericepv said:

You may also want to try experimenting with different settings for refraction (in the properties panel when set to 'Transparent').

Thanks, I will play with that too. Some of these words are new to me and confusing, haha. It takes a lot of trial and error.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
robdyck

robdyck

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, LeeDrafter said:

Thanks, I will play with that too. Some of these words are new to me and confusing, haha. It takes a lot of trial and error.

Post your plan file and I'll send you back a rendered image in a few minutes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LeeDrafter

LeeDrafter

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 10/21/2022 at 3:44 PM, robdyck said:

Post your plan file and I'll send you back a rendered image in a few minutes.

Thanks, here is a plan along with the ray trace I have done. I'm pretty happy with it except for the window glass and the grass. I put window treatments in to hide the interior while still allowing some transparency.

AerieA_Rendering.jpg

AERIE.zip

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ericepv

ericepv

Posted
Posted

Lee:

You're off to a good start, here are a few adjustments you can make:

  • Experiment with different sun angles
  • Decrease the sunlight to about 15,000 Lux (if you are doing a PBR, increase the brightness)
  • In ray-trace edit, set Ambient Occlusion to .50 min - 2.5 max (as a starting point)
  • I also like to keep the ambient lighting to a minimum (it can make a scene look flat)
  • Specify your background image (Enable Env. Light)
  • Turn on Caustics (Advanced tab)

Also, for the camera:

  • Increase height to 96"
  • Get rid of the camera tilt, it should be level
  • Narrow the field of view to around 40 degrees

The rest is adjusting your materials and properties (very important!).

 

Hope this helps- Eric

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LeeDrafter

LeeDrafter

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, ericepv said:

Lee:

You're off to a good start, here are a few adjustments you can make:

  • Experiment with different sun angles
  • Decrease the sunlight to about 15,000 Lux (if you are doing a PBR, increase the brightness)
  • In ray-trace edit, set Ambient Occlusion to .50 min - 2.5 max (as a starting point)
  • I also like to keep the ambient lighting to a minimum (it can make a scene look flat)
  • Specify your background image (Enable Env. Light)
  • Turn on Caustics (Advanced tab)

Also, for the camera:

  • Increase height to 96"
  • Get rid of the camera tilt, it should be level
  • Narrow the field of view to around 40 degrees

The rest is adjusting your materials and properties (very important!).

 

Hope this helps- Eric

thanks so much! You listed many things I have never done before, so this is a good learning experience. There is so much to know! thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Member Statistics

    32614
    Total Members
    9156
    Most Online
    FerrellBuilds
    Newest Member
    FerrellBuilds
    Joined

  • Similar Content

    • Ange822
      Exterior Ray Tracing - Tips
      By Ange822
      Good morning,
       
      I am still pretty new into Ray Tracing both CPU and GPU. I seem to have a pretty good grasp on the interior GPU with playing around with lighting / sun light etc.
      However - the exterior Ray Tracing, you can see it looks to be foggy? I have attached before / 100 passes / 200 passes.
       
      Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also not sure how to make the ground look more realistic? I tried adding small shrubs and rocks. 
       
      Thank you!



    • JBConrads
      Help Please: Backdrop Lost when Raytracing trough multiple pieces of Glass
      By JBConrads
      Hi All!
       
      I am a pro-x14 user and can't figure out why I am loosing my backdrop when raytracing through multiple pieces of glass. In this case I am going through two glass shower walls then a window as you will see on the left side of the rendering.....on the right side the windows/ backdrop are displaying correctly. 
       
      I looked for existing threads on this but couldn't located any. Is there a simple fix I am missing besides painting the window glass with the background or using photoshop?
       
      Thanks for the help!
       
      Jon

    • EMBARC
      Separating window frame to reveal material
      By EMBARC
      I'm looking to see if there is a way to separate the material between the frame and the reveal of a window (or door).
      When painting the frame it also paints the reveal the same material, and visa versa.
      I have been a long time Chief user but never found a solution - so hoping someone has a good trick. Using X13 currently.
       
      Thanks in advance!
       

    • Tkangas
      creating BRIGHTLY LIT interior ray trace images
      By Tkangas
      I am very perplexed by the lack of light in the interior physically based ray tracing camera. They always appear to be taken with all the interior lights off. 
      What I have tried so far:
      - adjusting the camera exposure and brightness
      - adding lights and light sources
      - increasing the maximum number of lights on
      - adjusting the sun angle, etc.
       
      I can NOT figure out how to make the interior rooms brighter!! I would LOVE if someone can help! This is a very powerful tool if it can be rendered correctly
       
      both attached images have light sources that are turned on
       
       
       


    • ThomasWilder
      Modelling a Georgian bay with single sash window
      By ThomasWilder
      Hello,

      I am trying to find the best way to model a Georgian window, with an angled inset into the wall's thickness, and a window along the inner edge (see the attached image). Note that this isn't a box window - there is no "bump out" - the window is set into the wall. I thought about using a wall niche, but I do not know how to create the angle. 

      Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

      Software version: Interiors X13